PINEAPPLES

INTRODUCTION

ARC- ITSC research station Hluhluwe

Using Advanced Crop Care products with a 40% reduction in N & K with standard fertiliser, and a 40% reduction in N post plant with Agro (a semi-organic fertiliser), plus a French and Atlas program.

Treatments: 

1. AGRO

Preplant: Agrofert @ 1 ton /ha Broadcast before ridging
10:2:10(22)
Postplant: 360 kg AS/ha (6 wpp) Basal leaf application

360 kg AS/ha (10 wpp) Basal leaf application

50 kg urea/ha/month Spray boom application (4x)

 2. AGRO + B (Advanced Crop Care)

Preplant: Agrofert @ 1 ton /ha Broadcast before ridging
10:2:10(22)
20 l Agri-Balance /ha Spray boom application after ridging and
before mulching
5 l Agri-Zinc “

Postplant: 210 kg AS / ha (6 wpp) Basal leaf application
15 l Agri-Boost/ha Spray boom application

210 kg AS/ha (10 wpp) Basal leaf application
15 l Agri-Boost/ha Spray boom application

5 l Agri-Zinc/ha (12 wpp) Spray boom application

30 kg urea/ha/month Spray boom (3x)
10 l Agri-Boost /ha

3. STANDARD

Preplant 500 kg AS/ha Broadcast before ridging
100 kg KCl/ha
Postplant 1200 kg AS/ha (6 wpp) Basal leaf application

4. STANDARD +B

Preplant 300 kg AS/ha Broadcast before ridging
40 kg KNO3/ha
20 l Agri-Balance /ha Spray boom application after ridging and
before mulching
5 l Agri-Zinc “
Postplant 700 kg AS/ha (6 wpp) Basal leaf application
15 l Agri-Boost/ha (6wpp) Spray boom application

15 l Agri-Boost /ha (10 wpp) Spray boom application

5 l Agri-Zinc/ha (12 wpp) Spray boom application
50 kg urea (x2) Spray boom application

5. FRANCE

Preplant 100 kg KCl/ha Broadcast before ridging

Postplant 500 kg AS/ha (6wpp) Basal leaf application

Postplant 700 kg AS/ha (10 wpp) Basal leaf application

Urea @50 kg/ha (4x) Spray boom application

6. ATLAS

Preplant 2000 kg Atlas/ha Broadcast before ridging

Postplant 900 kg/ha AS (10 wpp) Basal leaf application
75 kg KNO3 (5mpp) Spray boom application
50 kg MgSO4
50 kg Urea

PLANTING DATE: 15 Oct 2004

Assessments:

1. Leaf analysis at 4 and 7 months post plant
2. Plant mass
3. Yield
4. Shelf life (storage quality)

RESULTS:

1. Leaf analysis

Table 1 gives the leaf analysis for the 2 assessments. It was found that N and K for both the leaf analysis showed above normal to

high values.

Although the N values at the standard treatment with the Advanced Crop Care products were lower than the other treatments,

they were still within the norm. Since this treatment got 40% less N and K, it could indicate more efficient fertilizer use.

The highest K levels were obtained with the Atlas and Agro treatments.

The analysis showed slightly higher Ca and P levels with the Advanced Crop Care treatments, while the leaf analysis after

7 months also showed a definite higher Mg and Fe status. More of the leaf nutrients at the standard treatment with the

Advanced Crop Care products were within the norm compared to the other treatments. The relatively higher levels of

specific nutrients in the leaves at this treatment could be attributed a better balance between the nutrients.

Agri-Zinc increased the zinc levels in the leaves at 4 months after planting but there were little differences after 7 months.

These results also tend to corroborate results from other trials which showed that Advanced Crop Care products

(Earthworm exudate and humates) enhance the uptake of nutrients in plants, especially Fe and P, while also stabilizing and

increasing the efficacy of fertilizers. The standard treatment showed the most nutrient levels below the norms.

Table 1. Leaf analysis at 4 (A) and 6 (B) months post planting.

2. Plant mass

Agro + B had the highest average plant mass at 1 month before flower induction (fig. 1).

This was followed by Atlas, Agro and Standard + B (Advanced Crop Care).

3. Yield

Fruit was divided into fruit destined for local market (>450g ), export market (250 –450g) and reject fruit (<250g).

The highest yield was obtained in the Agro + B treatment while the standard treatment gave the lowest yield (fig. 2).

Advanced Crop Care increased yield in the Agro and Standard treatments with +- 10 ton/ha.

This is mostly in the bigger fruit (destined for local market).

4. Shelf life / Quality

After evaluation of fruit for occurrence of winter blotching, fruit was stored at room temperature for 4 weeks and the development of internal browning determined on a weekly base. Black spot infection was determined 1 week after harvest.

4.1 Winter blotching

Winter blotching was counted as number of solid rings per fruit (fig. 3) as well as an index was given for the severity of the symptom (fig. 4).

In both evaluations Atlas was the highest. Winter blotching (solid) also increased with the application of Advanced Crop Care products (Agro vs Agro + B and Standard vs standard + B).

4.2 Black spot

The highest no of blackspot occurred in the standard treatment. In this case Advanced Crop Care products reduced the occurrence of black spot (fig. 5).

4.3 Internal browning
Internal browning did not developed until 4 weeks after harvest and it developed only in the Atlas and France treatments at an index of 0.35 and 0.05 respectively.

PINEAPPLE UPTAKE